Augusta University Department of Art and Design students now have a significantly expanded and renovated space in which to practice and hone their craft.

Augusta University President Dr. Brooks Keel, Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Dean Dr. Elna Green, the Department of Art and Design and distinguished guests cut the ribbon on the Sculpture & Ceramics Studio on Monday, capping off what has been more than a year of carefully detailed planning and construction to give students a highly functional space that fosters their technical and conceptual abilities.

“The sculpture/ceramics program is very strong at Augusta University, and we pride ourselves on being a creative community. We wanted to give our students better, larger, contemporary facilities that are collaborative and interactive,” said Department of Art and Design Chair Professor Scott Thorp.

The Ceramics & Sculpture Studio has nearly doubled its size, growing to 8,253 gross square feet. The renovated space provides dedicated facilities for each discipline and each step in the creative process from ideation of a piece to display of the final product. Now, there are specific areas in which artists can work, store raw materials such as clay, metal and plaster as well as separate areas for mixing, glazing, firing and 3D printing.

The studio also now features a dedicated computer lab and specialized electrical system for the kilns and woodworking shop.

The stained, cement floors were intentionally left in their original warehouse condition, to complement the existing studios’ industrial design feel with its exposed brick walls, exposed duct work and warehouse roll-up doors.

“This is a space Augusta University can be proud of. It imbues the whole University with a creative culture. The Department of Art and Design just has to say thank you to President Dr. Keel, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Gretchen Caughman and Pamplin Dean Dr. Green,” Thorp said.